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“An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue” (Proverbs 17:4 NKJV). Surely in a political campaign year, this is easily understood. “Evildoer” describes someone whose heart is full of wickedness and sins. “False lips” describes the mouths through which the heart of evil speaks falsely. Only a wicked person wants to feed his, or, her vile heart with lies coming through “false lips.” The “liar” scrapes up garbage scraps from tongues of hateful spite, and cares nothing about truth, righteousness, or purity! The problem for the rest of us is when these people are the Media trying to feed us on their slop! Jesus said the Devil is “a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44 NKJV), but we know His children! It’s hard to know the truth after the Devil’s family reunion!

This is Johnny Polk, with “Words of Wisdom” brought to you by the Oneida church of Christ.

Jesus said “the devil…was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44-45 NKJV). The Devil has no respect for human life, for he murders. He has no truth, but only distorts or ignores the truth. He is the originator (“father”) of lies, intended to deceive. All this “from the beginning.” Beginning of what? “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1 NKJV), and Genesis 3 is where “the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness” (2 Corinthians 11:3). Jesus said, the final Judgment will send the “cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41 NKJV). Don’t follow the Devil now, or forever!

This is Johnny Polk, with “Words of Wisdom” brought to you by the Oneida church of Christ.

Of the Devil, Jesus Christ said, “When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44 NKJV). A “lie” is falsified or misrepresented truth. A “false witness who speaks lies” is one of seven things God hates, and so should we all. Politicians seem to be as confused as the man who crucified Jesus, Pontius Pilate, who asked, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). Schools are wanting to raise a generation of “liars” if they teach children “there are no wrong answers.” It’s sad to see a government leader who cannot remember the truth. A wise government leader, Solomon, said, “A faithful witness does not lie, But a false witness will utter lies” (Proverbs 14:5 NKJV). Make-belief is not the “truth.”

This is Johnny Polk, with “Words of Wisdom” brought to you by the Oneida church of Christ.

This Psalm is from an individual soul freed from near death. A “near death experience” means the person stays in “the land of the living” because if they had died, it would be a “resurrection.” The King of Judah, Hezekiah, was spared death by God’s heeding his prayers (2 Kings 20:1-11; Isaiah 38-39), so this easily could have come from him on that occasion. This is a personal Psalm, for “I,” “me,” “my” are used some 34 times.

Verses 1-11: (Verses 1-2) A good listener should be easy to love, for it shows individual interest (God hears “my voice,” “my supplications,” “me”). Family and friends who listen deserve life-long love. (Verses 3-4) Death came so close the Psalmist felt its “pains” (or cords) and knew its “pangs” (or distresses), and “trouble and sorrow.” A “near death” prayer is: “O LORD, I implore You, deliver my soul!” “Then I called,” but he had worshiped and prayed long before he faced death (2 Chronicles 30:18-20; 31:20-21). (Verse 5) The LORD is “gracious,” “righteous,” “merciful” (Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 112:4). (Verse 6) The LORD disciplines to produce humility. (Verses 7-8) “Rest” is for a soul blessed by God who is “delivered from:” “death,” “tears,” or “falling.” (Verses 9-10) Such a beloved soul lives “before the LORD” while life remains; speaks faithfully amidst affliction. Psalm 116:10 is quoted by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:13 because hearts are united by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Verse 11) That “all men are liars” cannot be true, for then the person making that statement would not be true. Hence, it is wrong to conclude “all men are liars,” though there may be many who do lie. A person who says anything that contradicts what God has said “is a liar” (1 John 1:10; 2:4, 22; 4:20; 5:10), hence, compared to God, “every man [is] a liar” (Romans 3:4).

Verses 12-17: (Verse 12) Realizing no person can give equally or above what God has given, an honest conscience would ask: What can I pay back to God? (Verse 13) “The cup of salvation,” under Moses’ Law could be “drink offerings” (Numbers 15:1-13, 5, 7, 10), but under Christ, ourselves (Romans 12:1; Philippians 2:17-18; 2 Timothy 4:6). To “call upon the name of the LORD” means to obey Him. Jesus said the words were not enough (Matthew 7:21-24); Peter included obedience to the Gospel (Acts 2:21-38, 41); and Saul of Tarsus had not “called” on the Damascus’ Road, but in Damascus (Acts 22:16). (Verse 14) God is owed worship, including public worship with others. (Verse 15) To “die in the Lord” (Revelation 14:13) is “precious” because it means: (1) A “saint” has believed to the saving of the soul (Hebrews 10:39); (2) The worldly temptations or afflictions can give no more problems; (3) A “saint” has reached God’s promised “rest” (Hebrews 4:1, 11). (Verse 16) The soul that experiences its obedience to God and His blessing becomes a true disciple (John 7:16-17; 8:28-32; 1 Peter 1:22-2:4). (Verse 17) Every offering a saint may make must include “thanksgiving” (Philippians 4:6).

Verses 18-19: There is no payback we may make equal to God’s gifts, but all who are saved are indebted: “in the presence of all His people,” “in the courts of the LORD’s house,” “in the midst of…Jerusalem.” The Lord’s house, today, is the church of Christ (1 Timothy 3:15), and not bound to a holy city (John 4:21-24; Matthew 28:18-20). Indeed, “Praise the LORD” (Hallelujah!).

Calling God a liar is a very serious matter. Who, in their right mind, would do such a thing as that? According to Scripture, those guilty of calling God a liar are all those who have not believed in His Son, Jesus. Perhaps you say to yourself, “That does not include me.” On the contrary, it very much includes you if you are not living your life for the Lord. Living life for the Lord is obeying His commands, and living the life He wants you to live (cf. Jeremiah 10:23; Proverbs 14:12). It does not mean that you, simply, have accepted His existence and note that He is the Savior. It means much more than that. “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14, NKJV).